Gamblers & Drifters

---

---

MVPs

---

PLOT

The Yamamori Family Origin Story (1946)

Run Time: start to 17:27 | Key Families: DOI – YAMAMORI – OTHER | Reference Chart (spoilers):

Hiroshima, 1946. The city bears the scars of the recent war: destruction, ruins, poverty – a fertile ground for casual violence and lawlessness. In a busy black market, a woman is violently assaulted by an American GI, and in the general indifference one man intervenes: Hirono Shōzō, a young man in army clothing, quickly followed by his friend Yamagata Shinichi, before the Japanese police and American MPs (Military Police) arrive.

Elsewhere, local yakuza leader Doi Kiyoshi catches unaffiliated hoodlum Ueda Toru collecting money around his territory and does not take kindly to this incursion. His captain Wakasugi Hiroshi handles the punishment: chopping Ueda and his henchman’s arm – a grim warning of who’s boss in the area.

Meanwhile, Yano Shuji and Makihara Masakichi are busy cooking a cheap stew in the market when their friends Shinkai Uichi, Kanbara Seichii, and Sakai Tetsuya (important note: Shinkai and Sakai are two different people, with very close names!) bring in some suspicious goods with MPs on their tail.

Away from all the excitement, Hirono listens to a romantic record with a good glass of milk, reminiscing… Only to be interrupted by his ex, loudly entering the bar arm in arm with GIs – the very same group from whom he saved a woman earlier. Harsh.

But a more pressing issue is at hand: Hirono‘s friend Yamagata comes in bleeding, having been attacked by a rogue yakuza in the market. Hirono gathers his friends, including Kanbara who was pushed into a putrid pond by the assaulter, to plan revenge. But all find excuses to pass on the duel – all except one: Hirono, who agrees to take on the assaulter with a gun borrowed from Sakai. Hirono soon finds the assaulter and shoots him dead – an act that sends him straight to prison for murder. In prison, Hirono meets Wakasugi, bonding with him after a scuffle with guards.

Remember the yakuza captain who cut off two people’s arms earlier? This is he, Wakasugi! Thankfully, he is much more friendly towards Hirono.

In confinement, Wakasugi reveals his plan: feigning suicide by hara kiri (deep cut to the stomach) in order to be put on bail immediately, an option available due to prison overcrowding. He asks Hirono to call the guards at the right moment, or to kill him if nobody comes, if the pain becomes too much; in exchange, Wakasugi vows to organise bail for Hirono if the plan succeeds. Despite the risks, Hirono accepts, and the two exchange a formal yakuza kyōdai (brotherhood) pledge with blood, in lieu of the usual sake. Hirono is now a yakuza!

Wakasugi survives his hara kiri with Hirono‘s help and, once out, upholds his end of the bargain: Hirono is released on bail, welcomed by his friends and by up-and-coming yakuza boss & bail provider Yamamori Yoshio.

Soon enough, under the watchful eye of yakuza elder Okubo Kenichi and established yakuza boss Doi, the friends pledge allegiance to Yamamori (Hirono, Yamagata, Yano, Makihara, Shinkai, Kanbara, Sakai), officially founding the family and joining as underbosses. A major player in the yakuza world has entered the stage.

The Doi – Yamamori Conflict Part 1 (1949)

Run Time: 17:27 to 34:10 | Key Families: DOI – YAMAMORI – OTHER | Reference Chart (spoilers):

At a Yamamori gambling event, a surly yakuza causes a scene, insulting the banker and starting a fight.

Remember the yakuza who had his arm cut off? This is he: Ueda! No wonder he’s on edge with this lot.

Hirono, outraged by the guest’s rudeness, attacks Ueda – and a general brawl begins. Unfortunately, Hirono picked the wrong target: Ueda is a distant relation of respected yakuza elder Okubo, and amends must be made if the Yamamori family is to avoid an incident. Yamamori brushes aside the option of money compensation, leading Hirono, ever the model yakuza, to offer his own finger as an apology.

Hirono does not know how to cut a finger, and must listen to Yamamori’s wife‘s advice on how to do it properly. Nerves, lack of preparation, bad instructions: whatever the reason, Hirono cuts his finger clean off… only to lose it immediately. Kanbara finally finds it outside, in the hen enclosure – all pecked-up. Okubo, amused by the state of the offering, laughs the matter off, but uses the awkward situation to push two demands on Yamamori: he must meet and help a politician friend, and he must also take in Ueda into his family. Yamamori, left without a choice, obliges.

In order to help with an upcoming election, the politician Nakahara asks Yamamori to briefly kidnap his political rival Kanamaru… a friend of Doi. The situation is tense for Yamamori, who cannot openly make a move against powerful Doi – especially after taking in former enemy Ueda. For Sakai, this is a deliberate trap set by Okubo to weaken the Yamamori family, who will only end up strengthening Doi and their political connections if they fail or refuse. A strong move is needed, but Sakai declines to put himself on the line.

Note Yamamori‘s change of tone and expression, his grand statement about the future of the yakuza, his familiar way of addressing the two men, using their first name (Hirono) Shōzō and (Sakai) Tetsuya… The Yamamori theatre is on!

Yamamori reveals that Nakahara has promised him money for his help, which the family needs, and that as members it’s Hirono‘s and Sakai‘s duty to help. Once more, ever dependable Hirono offers himself – but Sakai, concerned about Hirono‘s relationship with Wakasugi if he goes through with the plan, volunteers instead.

The kidnapping is a quick affair, with Sakai and his men capturing Kanamaru in a soapland (a kind of brothel), even handing him a modesty towel before embarking him. As requested, they hold him hostage during the crucial election moment, which he subsequently loses – and he is then released by Sakai, who reveals his name.

Sakai revealing his name to Nakahara nets him a very powerful enemy… More on this later.

Soon after, Kanbara is found in a bar bragging about the money made by Yamamori through the politician deal – but walls (and hostesses) have ears, and he is soon assaulted by Doi‘s men to get to the bottom of Yamamori‘s involvement. Kanbara, intimidated and badly beaten up, spills all the information. Wakasugi hears of the situation and quickly summons Yamamori and Hirono to his girlfriend’s bar. Wakasugi is a Doi man, but also wants to help his kyōdai Hirono (and, by extension, Hirono‘s boss Yamamori) and warns them of the incoming retaliation. Wakasugi understands that the matter is getting out of hand, and that war should be avoided – and suggests seeing a yakuza senior Kaito in Hiroshima to mediate the incident.

Before any preparation can be made, Kanbara is heard at the door of the bar, asking to come in. The group opens the door, only for Doi and his men to rush in, determined to kill Yamamori. Wakasugi steps in, explaining that this is a trap from Okubo to divide and conquer and that the two families must not go to war over simple politicians. Doi, unwilling to listen, attacks Wakasugi – but Wakasugi gets the upper hand and chases Doi. Wakasugi is now in trouble with his boss and becomes a guest of the Yamamori family, and Yamamori is safe for now – a battle is won, but not the war.

The Doi – Yamamori Conflict Part 2 (1949)

Run Time: 34:10 to 54:28 | Key Families: DOI – YAMAMORI – OTHER | Reference Chart (spoilers):

A few months pass. Hirono is a guest at Kaito’s family when he is visited by Wakasugi. Wakasugi informs him that Doi is muscling in in the area, at the detriment of Yamamori – and that something must be done. Hirono quickly understands that Wakasugi is about to kill Doi – and, unable to watch his kyōdai do something dishonorable (killing his boss), requests a Yamamori crisis meeting to work out the best way forward. Yamamori is revealed to have isolated Wakasugi and asked him to handle the situation, but Hirono wants the group to handle things together – and possibly wage war on Doi, which Wakasugi agrees with.

The Yamamori members are extremely reluctant to approve the conflict, offering various excuses such as:

• *chokes on their drink*
• “I would, but I’m not feeling so well lately. My stomach…”
• “Well there must be another way… No?”
• *silence*
• “I’m not afraid to die – but my wife is pregnant and I worry about her, so I can’t…” *cries*

Yamamori, in another fit of theatrics, offers to go himself (as if), before, once again… Hirono volunteers. Yamamori, face streaming with crocodile tears, tells Hirono that he will be well taken care of if he goes to jail, and will be given “everything [Yamamori] owns” on his return – prompting everyone to feel emotional about how great and considerate a boss Yamamori is. We’ll see about that.

To illustrate his good will towards Hirono, Yamamori pulls out a money box to give him “all he has”. Notice how he only grabs the top notes (usually the least valuable) – also, isn’t this just his petty cash since he stated earlier that he had millions in the bank?

Hirono spends his last night as a free man with a woman, and goes back to Kaito’s, ready for the hit. Soon, Hirono gets his opportunity, and shoots Doi in the street, before fleeing the scene. While in hiding at a place provided by Wakasugi‘s girlfriend, he receivers a call from Wakasugi, informing him that Doi is not dead yet, and that Hirono must not leave the hideout under any circumstances until he gets him out, as only he and Yamamori know his location. But suddenly, someone knocks: it’s Kanbara, who reports being sent here by Yamamori to get Hirono out to a better place, as the police is harassing Yamamori and may find this hideout. Hirono hesitates, but decides to trust Yamamori over his kyōdai Wakasugi, and follows Kanbara. Big mistake.

Kanbara takes Hirono away on a truck and suddenly stops, citing an engine problem – but when Hirono looks out, Kanbara has disappeared, replaced by a group as assailants. Hirono runs out desperately into the night… and into prison.

Who could have sold Hirono out? The one person who knew where Hirono was, liaised with Kanbara, and wanted police off his back and onto Hironos‘s… Yamamori himself!

In prison, Hirono receives a visit from Wakasugi, informing him that Doi is dead and that Sakai is back – and that Wakasugi must now pursue his own path. In a pivotal moment for Hirono, Wakasugi expresses doubts about Yamamori, mentioning the incident with Kanbara, and that Yamamori may not be as good or trustworthy as Hirono believes. Hirono, pensive, asks Wakasugi it he would let Hirono join him when he’s released. With a Mona Lisa smile, Wakasugi nods and leaves.

Karma comes from Kanbara very quickly: Wakasugi ambushes him and kills him on the spot. But soon the police receive a mysterious address related to this murder: the location of Wakasugi‘s girlfriend’s house… where Wakasugi is in hiding. Thanks to the note, the police storm the place, and it’s Wakasugi‘s turn to be killed. Hirono has lost his dearest brother, and the Doi family is reduced to ashes.

Who gave away Wakasugi‘s location to the police? All will be revealed, but a strong guess is already possible. Spoilers in the chart!

WAR WINNER: YAMAMORI!

Yamamori In-Fighting: The Shinkai – Sakai Conflict (1950 – 1954)

Run Time: 54:28 to 1:13:11 | Key Families: YAMAMORI – OTHER | Reference Chart (spoilers):

In 1950, the Korean war starts, bringing lucrative contracts with the US army to Yamamori. But the Yamamori family has bigger problems at home: they are suspected of dealing philopon (methadone), a popular drug ravaging the population.

Yamamori family captain Sakai, who believes that selling drugs is beneath the yakuza, goes to the source of the rumours: Shinkai, whose underling Arita Toshio (Watase Tsunehiko in what his possibly his most infuriating performance) appears to be making and selling drugs with abandon. After a stern telling off and embarking Arita to teach him a lesson, Sakai and his captive come across Shinkai, unhappy with the turn of events. Shinkai complains that Yamamori takes too much of a cut, and that he has no choice but to sell drugs to make ends meet. Out of options, Sakai brings the issue to Yamamori – but not before Arita asks his men to check where the confiscated drugs end up, suspecting something fishy about the raid.

Back at the Yamamori HQ, with all the underbosses present, Sakai explains the situation and suggests that Yamamori reduce his rake-in on some businesses to give the underbosses more breathing space, building towards being self-sustainable like big families. Yamamori, sensing a very unwelcome shift in power, protests, with the back-up of Shinkai and Yano. But the rest of the group votes in Sakai‘s suggestion, and, emboldened, Sakai asks Shinkai to stash his drug-making underling Arita to appease police tensions.

As they meet to discuss Arita‘s enforced break, Arita informs Shinkai that he found out where their confiscated drugs ended up: sold by Yamamori all over Hiroshima, with all the profit going to… Yamamori. Arita (incorrectly) believes that Sakai is in on it, and warns his boss that he’s being duped – but that he knows someone who may be able to help… Politician Kanamaru.

Remember the politician that Sakai kidnapped in a soapland, causing him to lose an election, and revealed his name to? This is he, Kanamaru – and it’s time for revenge…

Kanamaru offers Shinkai his back-up, as long as he gets rid of Sakai – who he claims is in the way of Shinkai‘s ascension to being a boss. Kanamaru suggests that Shinkai offs Sakai, dealing a mortal blow to the Yamamori family, and then reform the Doi family under his power as the new big player in Hiroshima. To further convince Shinkai to go ahead with the murder, Kanamaru brings in two of the defunct Doi group’s drifting men, bent for revenge and ready to cause chaos for Sakai.

Remember the Doi men who brutalised Kanbara in a bar earlier? This is them!

But again walls – and friends – have ears: Yamagata, standing near-by, witnessed Shinkai‘s meeting with Kanamaru, and immediately goes to warn his friend Sakai – before being intercepted and killed by one of Arita‘s men. Sakai, in return, intercepts Arita, telling him to get out of town immediately or else – but Arita seizes this opportunity to reveal that the drugs that Sakai confiscated for Yamamori were then sold by Yamamori for full profit, and mocks him for being unaware.

Sakai, irate, confronts a remorseless Yamamori, who only offers a weak excuses and tells Sakai to leave the family if he’s unhappy with his dealings. Sakai angrily reminds Yamamori that the group is built on men like Sakai, who have been shedding blood to get the family where it is now. Sakai adds that it’s Yamamori who needs to do the underbosses’ bidding, or they’ll leave – leaving Yamamori alone and totally powerless. Sakai leaves, telling Yamamori he’ll deal with Shinkai, Arita, and politician Kanamaru by himself.

Sakai mentions that he found about about the Kanamaru / Doi / Shinkai alliance through the late Yamagata‘s wife. How close can these two be?… We’ll find out soon.

At the Yamamori, Yamamori‘s wife expresses her anger at seeing her husband treated with such disrespect. Yamamori is not fazed, hinting that the family members’ rashness and insolence will only end up in them killing each other – but he bristles at the mention of Ueda backing Sakai. Something must be done.

Why does Yamamori bristle at Ueda‘s name? Perhaps because, as we know from earlier in the film, Ueda is still Okubo‘s distant relation and protégé. A dangerous person to have against you, and a convenient one to make disappear without a trace…

Yamamori makes a quick phone call to Ueda, pretending to want to meet the next day in order to gain intel on his whereabouts (he will be at the barber’s), before making a second, mysterious, second call. The next day, right on cue, Arita visits Ueda at the barber’s and murders him on the spot – another Yamamori rival down.

Retaliation from Sakai quickly follows, leading to an ongoing guerilla between the Sakai and Shinkai families. Soon, the Doi men who conspired with politician Kanamaru are shot dead by Sakai men, and Arita, after a scuffle with the police, is sent to prison – not to be seen again. Finally, in a train station, two Sakai men brutally attack Shinkai and stab him to death. This is the end of Shinkai, the Shinkai gang, and of the Doi family’s potential resurgence.

WAR WINNER: SAKAI!

Yamamori In-Fighting: the Yamamori – Hirono – Sakai Conflict (1954 -1956)

Run Time: 1:13:11 to end | Key Families: YAMAMORI – OTHER | Reference Chart (spoilers):

Hirono is finally released from prison and welcomed at the gates by his friend Yano, who explains that Yamamori is also waiting for him in a near-by restaurant. As soon as Hirono arrives, Yamamori complains about Sakai‘s power and asks for Hirono‘s backing, before breaking down in (largely ignored) crocodile tears. In an equally staged two-punch statement, Yamamori‘s wife states that Sakai is speaking ill of Hirono at every opportunity, and is intent on killing him.

In an effort to appeal to Hirono’s old-fashioned values, which Yamamori is of course well aware of, he insinuates that Sakai‘s power grab and business interest directly violate the yakuza code. An extremely ironic take coming from Yamamori.

Disbelief washes over Hirono‘s face, not helped by (suddenly dry-eyed) Yamamori insisting clumsily that Hirono must strike first and kill Sakai – despite Hirono‘s protest that he has just left prison, and cannot risk another sentence so quickly. Hirono asks for time, and promises to help Yamamori as much as possible when the time is right.

This is a sign of change for Hirono who, when agreeing to take on Doi years earlier, stated that he did not fear death if the family required it. New Hirono pauses and asks for time to asses the situation – a wise decision…

All smiles, the Yamamori decide the cut the meal short to attend a business meeting. Before leaving, Yamamori hands over his welcome-back money to Hirono, promising more if Hirono does his bidding. Yamamori half-heartedly apologises for the small amount, explaining that times are hard for the family – and asks Hirono to pay for everyone’s bill at his own welcome party. Hirono‘s underling, angry for his boss, comments on the paltry amount of money given to Hirono – while Yamamori‘s business is flourishing like never before, and after he organised a lavish geisha party only the night before. His underling also reminds him of Yamamori‘s promise to hand over his money and property when Hirono got out… A long lost lie. Hirono sips on sake, pensive at this strange welcome and even stranger revelations.

Hirono, ever the devoted friend, visits his late friend Yamagata‘s wife in her apartment to pay his respects. As Hirono prays quietly to Yamagata‘s altar, Sakai comes in with gifts for Yamagata‘s wife’s young baby, addressing her in a very familiar manner. The two men are surprised to see each other, and Hirono, in one glance, understands whose baby it really is – soon confirmed by Sakai.

Remember when Sakai mentioned he’d found out about the Shinkai / Doi / Kanamaru alliance from Yamagata‘s wife? No wonder – these two are very close indeed!

Hirono returns one truth with another: he has been in touch with Yamamori, the only person with Yano who came to greet him out of prison, and was made aware of the tensions between Sakai and Yamamori. Sakai, irritated, mentions the endless and unending waste of life caused by Yamamori – and describes his new business life, finally away from Yamamori‘s machinations. Hirono, exhausted by the situation, finally admits to Sakai that he was sent to kill him, and reaches for his inside pocket. Sakai jumps and yelps, begging for mercy – to Hirono‘s surprise, who was only reaching for cigarettes, and reminds Sakai of the old bond they share.

Hirono states that it’s time to stop killing each other off, and suggests reconciliating with Yamamori in order to rebuild and honor all the useless deaths that befell the family. But Sakai and Yamamori are far, far beyond reconciliating, and Sakai decides it’s time for action.

For Hirono, honouring and avoiding senseless deaths is a crucial moral point, and he will spend his yakuza life labouring the point. Too bad nobody else shares this opinion.

The same evening, Sakai barges in Yamamori‘s house at night and, desperate to finally and decisively end Yamamori‘s reign, threatens to kill him if he does not resign immediately. Yamamori, cornered physically as much as tactically, must obey – and retires… (for now)

Sakai is free to inaugurate his new business at a lavish party – where none other than Makihara warns him (incorrectly) that Yano is actively plotting against him. Taking the bait, Sakai send his men to kill Yano, which Makihara reports straight back to Hirono , with Yamamori right next to him. Summoned by Makihara to the Boat Racing building in the same breath, Hirono (much to his displeasure) is soon welcomed by Yamamori, who berates him for letting Sakai go and blames Hirono directly for his friend – to Hirono‘s anger. Good cop Makihara proceeds to beg Hirono to avenge Yano by siding with Yamamori and killing Sakai, giving him an annotated map indicating Sakai‘s secret place.

Remember when the police found Wakasugi earlier thanks to annotated map? Hirono and the viewers finally learn the truth via the writing: it was Makihara all along!

Thoroughly disgusted with both Yamamori and Makihara, Hirono hands in his pledge to Yamamori as a boss and leaves the family, vowing to deal with Sakai by himself. As soon as Hirono steps out, Makihara calls Sakai to warn him that Hirono is coming to kill him – in a stunning triple-crossing.

Hirono arrives at Sakai‘s hiding place and is ambushed on the spot, admitting angrily to Sakai that he wants to kill him to avenge Yano . Breaking one further bond, Hirono smashes his kyōdai cup with Sakai, ending their brotherhood, and tells him to kill him if he so wishes. But this time, it’s Sakai who reminds them of their old bond, and asks Hirono once again to join him and break free of Yamamori. Hirono refuses, and Sakai is forced to take him on a drive to be killed. As the two reflect on everything that has gone wrong and destroyed their bonds, Hirono warns Sakai somberly that the hunter (Yamamori) is stronger than the prey – and, once Hirono is gone, to look after himself. Sakai, in one last display of brotherhood, decides to let Hirono go free, giving him a gun and leaving the car. Hirono, speechless, watches his old friend walk away one last time.

Sakai steps away from the car, only for another car full of suspicious characters to come right behind him. In 1956 Hiroshima, nowhere is sacred: in the middle of a toy store, covered in tinsel and clutching a little doll, Sakai is brutally assassinated by Yamamori and Makihara‘s men. The Yamamori – Hirono – Sakai conflict ends here.

WAR WINNER: YAMAMORI!

Epilogue (1956)

Hirono, in civilian clothes, barges in Sakai‘s funeral, walking to the altar without a glance for all his enemies filling the room. He addresses his old friend’s altar picture, wondering if he’s happy with this funeral full of hypocrisy and his murderers’ ostentatious offerings. Drawing his own conclusions, Hirono takes out a gun and methodically shoots the nameplates of Sakai‘s murderers: politician Nakahara; elder Okubo (who visibly shudders on impact), and others – shooting the symbols rather than the people. Businessmen, politicians, corrupt yakuza – all guilty of the self-serving chaos that became the unravelling of men like Sakai, Hirono, and their friends.

A shaken Yamamori stands up to challenge Hirono, who calmly replies that he still has some bullets left. Without another word, and without looking back, Hirono leaves, his anger and sorrow twisting his face.

THE END

---